(WINERY WEB-SITE IS WWW.MERUMPRIORATI.COM - INAUGURAL RELEASE!!!)

The 2004 Ardiles is composed of 45% Garnacha, 34% Carinena, 18% Syrah, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Merum Priorati estate owns 6 parcels of old vines and 7 parcels of younger vines and this bottling is a blend of old and young vines which was aged for 12 months in a mixture of new and used French oak. Dark ruby-colored, it exhibits a fragrant nose of mineral, spice box, kirsch, raspberry, and spring flower garden. Structured on the palate with excellent depth and concentration, it has layers of spicy fruit and terrific integration of oak, tannin, and acid. The wine has a long, pure finish. Although it can be drunk now, this hedonistically styled wine should evolve for 3-5 years and drink well through 2022. - JM, Feb 07 Issue of the wine advocate

The grapes for this wine were harvested from a combination of premium vineyards sites. Both old and new vineyards have been combined to create this Grenache & Carignan driven wine. Parcels of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon have been included to add a different dimension to the flavour spectrum. The wine was fermented using 1.5 t open fermenters and hand plunged 3-5 times daily. Each parcel has been matured separately for 12 months in a combination of both new and older oak barriques. - winery notes